Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to introduce bylaws following the consultation on four of England’s Marine Protected Areas, published February 2021, which proposed the prohibition of the use of bottom towed fishing gear in four offshore Marine Protected Areas.

The Fisheries Act 2020 introduced new powers enabling the Marine Management Organisation to implement management measures within our offshore Marine Protected Areas. The byelaws for the first four offshore sites are now in the process of being finalised.